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The Open University

Economics explains discrimination in the labour market

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

Discrimination in the labour market exists in many forms: the 'glass ceiling', ageism, racism, and so on. This free course, Economics explains discrimination in the labour market, will help you look at this problem from a new perspective: through economics. You will learn how economists have tried to understand what drives this distortion of the labour market and why women and those from minority ethnic groups seem to suffer the most.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Synopsis
  • 1 Synopsis
  • 1.1 A contentious issue
  • 1.2 Key ideas
  • 2 Discrimination in the labour market: introduction
  • 2 Discrimination in the labour market: introduction
  • 3 Labour market disadvantage
  • 3 Labour market disadvantage
  • 3.1 Gender-based disadvantage
  • 3.2 Ethnicity and disadvantage
  • 3.3 Other disadvantaged groups
  • 4 Forms of discrimination
  • 4 Forms of discrimination
  • 5 Neoclassical models of discrimination
  • 5 Neoclassical models of discrimination
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 Becker's ‘employer taste’ model
  • 5.3 Statistical discrimination
  • 5.3.1 Investment in education and training
  • 5.3.2 Productivity difference
  • 5.4 Empirical evidence
  • 6 Segmented labour markets
  • 6 Segmented labour markets
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 Dual labour market theory
  • 6.2.1 Job rewards
  • 6.2.2 The role of market forces
  • 6.2.3 Tastes and attitudes
  • 6.3 The roots of segmentation
  • 6.4 Empirical analysis
  • 7 Policy issues
  • 7 Policy issues
  • 8 Conclusion
  • 8 Conclusion
  • 9 Activities
  • 9 Activities
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

Reviews

3.8 rating at OpenLearn based on 4 ratings

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